Again she found herself ranging for meals. A feverish energy to her movements. Blood dripping from her fur where she had tangled with prey.
Blue eyes twisted turned around the large trees. Petite nose to the ground. Tawny body in a constant crouch as she followed a trail.
Sooty gray paw dipping darting beneath the forest floor. It was a time for blood saceifices and food. Winter was coming. The bony fingers of early frosts had already stared chilling her to her bones. Though as the sun rose it dissipated.
Chacal's journey would bring her South along the coast, to comb the shores for any sign of her son, before heading inland and skirting the Western borders of Redtail Rise. She hoped she would catch some sign of him within a reason perimeter of the pack after having disappeared- but the boy had spring in his heels and a head start. If she began her search in the wrong direction, it would only serve to potentially strengthen his lead.
She denied herself the thought that he might be harmed, suffering or deceased- she extended that stubborn refusal to cover the disappearance of both sons. How she'd managed to allow two children to slip from her grasp shook her confidence, but it did not deter her from searching fervently.
She knew the Sound well; it had a long and complicated history from what she knew, but presently, none claimed it. She caught sight of a wolf in the distance, and sniffed the air. Sacrarium. It was just as well she found someone from Sacrarium- they owed Sapphique a debt, for the child they now harboured and schooled in the art of scouting. She chuffed, to catch the other's attention, and began to pad through the lifting mist toward her.
Ash Paw continued her foray. A little oblivious, so intent upon her mission. To fill caches, gather sacrifces and herbs.
So she was startled by the chuff nearby and lifted head to meet the gaze of a breathaking she wolf. The patterns of her fur reminded Ash Paw of royals.
She dipped her head. Hello.
The woman she approached was small, for a wolf, and she noticed as she came closer that it appeared she'd made a kill recently. She could smell the blood of prey mingled with her fur. It didn't deter Chacal- if anything, she was glad for the woman to have had luck in her hunts. Their packs were on good terms- strengthening, if nothing else. She dipped her head in return, a very faint smile coming to her eyes when she noticed that the woman had eyes the colour of the sea on a cool, Autumn day.
"Allo. I am Chacal, a leader from Sapphique.
Our packs be friends- Lenora lives wid us as we speak.
I call an' ask a favour of you now,
to 'elp search for my son, who needs to be found."
She sung, flicking her ears forward, in hopes for cooperation.
Ash licked along the seam of her muzzle, getting the remnants of prey off her if she could. Ash Paw returned the smile and tilted her head. Ears tilted forward to listen. Her voice came across in lyrics and rhyme. The liltling sound, breezing and dancing along the windy day.
Ash closed her eyes in gentle happiness. Pleased at the cadence. She was not a very good singer, so she simply hummed a simple melody to match the song. A way of showing her appreciation and letting her know she was listening.
Hello i'm Ash Paw.
Ash Paw frowned at the child missing. Oh. I will gladly help you look. Where would you like to start?
Ash Paw's humming was endearing. She had a good ear, and her voice was quite pleasant. It seemed to come to her naturally, as she hummed along but was also able to catch the message Chacal was relaying with her song. Chacal was impressed; Sacrarium might be even more useful to them then she'd thought.
"T'ank you Ash Paw, it is nice to meet you,
your 'elp in dis matter be noble an' true.
I will search inland, to de West past de rise,
if you could search South, wid a keen pair of eyes.
My son is called 'Theo,' an' almost four months of age,
'E look much like me, but 'is eyes be blue-sage,"
She said, hoping the description would help her pinpoint the boy.
Ash Paw had never been one for singing, but she had liked the chants she heard, and the songs she heard. More the rhythm than the words. Ash remembered this ones face. She would seek her out if she found anything.
Theo.
She repeated his name and nodded her head. Tracing her eyes over the mother wolf, taking in the colors of her pelt, to better orient herself with the youngling. She would find him if she could.
I'll do my best and any of my pack mates i happen to see I'll pass the message along.
Ash shifted and frowned. Is there anything that you wish me to say or do you think I would need to say if i come across him?
Chacal nodded gratefully. Sacrarium owed them a debt- and this favour would help to repay what was owed. Ash Paw's willingness to help certainly improved Chacal's opinion of the pack, and she would let her siblings know they they had eyes searching for Theo along the Southern reaches of the shoreline.
"If you find Theo, I would like it known
dat we wish to 'ave our boy come 'ome.
'Is family, we miss 'im an' wish 'im to come back,
an' be at one wid bot' family an' pack."
Her request was simple. She wouldn't ask Ash Paw to drag Theo back, but to plead with him and let him know he was important, and very missed.
Ash Paw gave a soft nod. SHe would do her best to return the child to his mother, if she found him. Hopefully, he would be found safely. It was a shame to lose a child. She herself had never gone across it, and she hoped to never do so, but the simple fact was. Sometimes Atka gave and Sos took.
I will tell him these things if I come across him. I hope you find your son.
Ash Paw gave a soft smile and if there was nothing else, she'd be on her way to at least look for their child. He would probably smell at least a little like the wolf in front of her.
"Merci, Ash Paw," Chacal hummed, wishing blessings upon the wolf in her travels and searches. There was no way to tell for certain if Ash Paw had, in fact, planned to go and search for Theo along the shore, but she could hope. And at least this way, the wolves of Sacrarium knew to keep an eye out for a boy. No harm would befall him, she thought- not while Lenore trained in Sapphique.
She gave the woman a grateful nod, turned, and left, travelling inland to make an arc around Redtail Rise.